But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
Parallel translations
- WEB But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
- KJV But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
- NKJV But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. Forit will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
- NASB But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour.
- NLT When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When put on trial, disciples need not worry about what to say. God will supply the right words at the right time.
Overview
Jesus reassures His messengers that in moments of testimony they need not rehearse anxiously, for God will give them what to speak. This is not a license for laziness in study but a promise of grace under pressure. It frees believers from fear so they can witness boldly, resting in God's faithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Exod 4:12Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
- Mark 13:11–13But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Tim 4:17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
- Luke 21:12–17But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
- Luke 12:11When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
- Exod 4:15You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do.
- Jer 1:9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- Dan 3:16–18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
- Matt 6:31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- Acts 6:10but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
- Jas 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Matt 6:25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
- Jer 1:7But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.
- Phil 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Matt 6:34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
- Acts 4:8–14Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
- Acts 5:29–33But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Acts 26:2–11“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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